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Page 51
"We've got to get out somehow," Sir Henry declared. "Mills, my
oilskins and flask at once. I sha'n't change a thing, but you might
bring a cardigan jacket and the whisky and soda."
Mills withdrew, a little dazed. Philippa, whose fingers were
clenched together, found her tongue at last.
"Henry!" she exclaimed furiously.
"What is it, my dear?"
"Do you mean to tell me that after your promise," she continued,
"after what you have just said, you are starting out to-night for
another fishing expedition?"
"Whiting, my dear," Sir Henry explained. "One can't possibly miss
whiting. Where the devil are my keys?--Here they are. Now then."
He sat down before his desk, took some papers from the top drawer,
rummaged about for a moment or two in another, and found what seemed
to be a couple of charts in oilskin cases. All the time the wind
was shaking the windows, and a storm of rain was beating against the
panes.
"Help yourself to whisky and soda, Jimmy," Sir Henry invited, as he
buttoned up his coat. "You'll need it all presently."
"I thank you kindly, sir," Jimmy replied. "I am thinking that we'll
both need a drink before we're through this night."
He helped himself to a whisky and soda on the generous principle of
half and half. Philippa, who was watching her husband's preparations
indignantly, once more found words.
"Henry, you are incorrigible!" she exclaimed. "Listen to me if you
please. I insist upon it."
Sir Henry turned a little impatiently towards her. "Philippa, I
really can't stop now," he protested. "But you must! You shall!"
she cried. "You shall hear this much from me, at any rate, before
you go. What I said the other day I repeat a thousandfold now."
Sir Henry glanced at Dumble and motioned his head towards the door.
The fisherman made an awkward exit.
"A thousandfold," Philippa repeated passionately. "You hear, Henry?
I do not consider myself any more your wife. If I am here when you
return, it will be simply because I find it convenient. Your conduct
is disgraceful and unmanly."
"My dear girl!" he remonstrated. "I may be back in twenty-four--
possibly twelve hours."
"It is a matter of indifference to me when you return," was the curt
reply. "I have finished."
The door was thrown open.
"Your oilskins, sir, and flask," Mills announced, hurrying in, a
little breathless. "You'll forgive my mentioning it, sir, but it
scarcely seems a fit night to leave home."
"Got to be done this once, Mills," his master replied, struggling
into his coat.
The young people from the billiard room suddenly streamed in. Nora,
who was still carrying her cue, gazed at her father in amazement.
"Why, where's Dad going?" she cried.
"It appears," Philippa explained sarcastically, "that a shoal of
whiting has arrived."
"Very uncertain fish, whiting," Sir Henry observed, "here to-day
and gone to-morrow."
"You won't find it too easy getting off to-night, sir," Harrison
remarked doubtfully.
"Jimmy will see to that," was the confident reply. "I expect we
shall be amongst them at daybreak. Good-by, everybody! Good-by,
Philippa!"
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